The city at the bottom of the world, Ushuaia has long been associated with the “end of the world”. For many it marks the end of a long trip, while other use it as a launching pad to visit Antartica. Besides being a tourist destination, the city also serves as a military base and home to many fishermen.
Climate: It should be no surprise that the climate in Ushuaia tends to be cold. Even during the heat of the summer the temperature rarely exceeds 15°C and common strong winds can make it feel even cooler. Dress in layers.
Accomodation in Ushuaia
Hotels fill up in January and February so book in advance. To check availability and prices of hotels in Ushuaia on Booking.com, Click here.
To comprare prices and read reviews of hotels in Ushuaia on Expedia, click here: Hotels in Ushuaia
Hostels in Ushuaia
There are a good selection of hostels in Ushuaia and the backpacker community thrives. Prices of accomodation, and just about everything else for that matter, tends to be higher than in most parts of the country. To check availability of hostels in Ushuaia click here: Hostels in Ushuaia
By Air
Due to the long distances in Patagonia, it is recommended that you fly at least one way if you plan on visiting Ushuia. If you are not an Argentine resitdent, you will pay more for the plane ticket and if you wait until the last minute during high season, you will have to pay a ridiculous amount of money. Reserve in advance and combine with an international ticket to get the best value. If possible, try to fly out or into Ushaia during daylight hours. The view is spectacular.
The airport ( USH ) is 5kms to the south of the center.
By Bus
From Ushuaia in a bus you can only go north. All long distance buses, except those to Chile, will eventually pass through Rio Gallegos, so you might have to transfer there. But be aware in high season (Dec – February) that bus tickets often sell out well in advance. If you do need to transfer in Rio Gallego, make sure you have a reserved seat to your next destination.
There is no real bus terminal in town, but most buses stop at the corner of Avenue Maipú and Fadul
All long distance Argentine buses must pass into Chile, and this means going through immigration twice on both the Argentine and Chilean sides. Delays are common and remember that Chilean custom regulations are stricter than the ones in Argentina. No fruit,vegetables, nuts, bread, meat or dairy products may be bought over the border. This can even include something as seemingly harmless as a liter of ultra-pasturized milk.
By Boat
To Chile: Between the last week in September and the beginning of April Cruceros Australis offers 3-4 day cruises to/from Punta Arenas in Chile. Prices range from 900 to over 3000 dollars per passenger. For more info, see their website: http://www.australis.com/
If you really must go further south, you can take boat to Puerto Williams although it is very expensive.
Nightlife in Ushuaia
There are a couple of good Irish bars in town that fill up with tourists celebrating the end or beginning of their trip. Dublin Bar on 9 de Julio is very popular with gringos. Galway Bar can be found on San Martin.
Tourist Information: San Martín 674 Open M-F 09:00 to 22:00, on weekends until 20:00.
Hiking
There are plenty of options for hiking, but if you plan on going far make sure you have a good map, compass and plenty of food. More than one ill-prepared hiker has gotten lost in the barren landscape of Tierra Del Fuego. More practically, visit the Tierra del Fuego National Park where the trails are well marked. Buses to the park leave from the corner of Maipu and Fadul.
Skiing
Cerro Castor is a ski area often overlook by skiers due to its remote location. The light dry snow here is rumored to be excellent.
